Mike Acker is an author, TEDx Speaker, and speaking coach best known for writing for the book Speak With No Fear, the world’s highest-rated book on overcoming the fear of public speaking.
Mike Acker has published seven books, including a Top 20 Business Book of 2020, and built a highly successful public speaking school that helps professionals speak with confidence.
Through his TEDx coaching program, podcast appearances, and global speaking engagements, Mike has helped clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams to international agencies, churches, relief organizations, and celebrities step confidently onto the big stage.
Book Title: Speak With No Fear
Genre: Leadership Development & Organizational Management
What is your story?
I first wrote a book in 2006. I was a senior pastor at the time, and I wrote my book as part of a master’s program – but had no idea what to do with it. I attempted to get it published, but it never got the recognition it deserved.
I sent it out to some publishers. It didn’t go anywhere, and I moved on in life. But I always had a desire to get something out there.
After 18 years, I moved out of the pastoral ministry and into the corporate world. I became an executive in consultative sales and coached on the side. I’ve always coached in communication, whether it was my staff members, or debaters in college.
Although I was still working in the public speaking realm, and had a wealth of knowledge to share, I still hadn’t done anything with that book I wrote back in my 20s. That all changed when I found selfpublishing.com.
When did you realize you wanted to write a book for your business?
I came across selfpublishing.com and was skeptical at first because of my previous experience. I had already tried to get my book out there and it had failed. I wondered, did anyone actually want to hear what I had to say?
Through speaking with the team at selfpublishing.com, I realized I could truly grow a business from my experience and previous writing projects.
I realized that my book and my coaching were a business. I just had to capitalize on them.
What is your advice for future authors?
Take one book and treat it like it has a lot of potential. Don’t expect it to be a $5,000-a-month earner right away, but treat it like it could, and do the work that might come back to haunt you or to bless you.
It’s never a lack of resources that’s holding you back, but a lack of awareness, trusted feedback, and the right strategic plan.
What did your transformation look like?
Before I started working with selfpublishing.com, I had listened to Chandler Bolt’s audiobook multiple times. I also attended a webinar and jumped on five sales calls to determine if the Author Advantage Accelerator program was right for me. It was.
One of the things I know that happens is that a lot of people ask their coaches things that are already in the program. I didn’t know what to ask my coach, because I would listen to the program on repeat, and really, I mean, I did everything to a T.
I did the three-month launch verbatim, tracked everything, did everything you did. And then when I hit release, I was ready, because I had worked the system. I always tell people, ‘If there’s a system that works, and you work it, it will work.
While working with selfpublishing.com, I appreciated how clear the instructions and laid-out plan were. I always knew exactly what to do to succeed.
I switched careers right as my book was published. I took a week off and just focused completely on the book launch. And it paid off. The first edition quickly garnered over 800 reviews on Amazon.
What I discovered in retrospect is that I was going for visibility. Then suddenly, my book was highly visible. So, a takeaway for anybody is, what can you do to get your book out there?
Has Mike Acker’s story inspired you to share your own? Learn more about the book writing support, editing services, book coaching, and more he received as a part of the Author Advantage Accelerator Elite Program? Schedule a consultation today or take the quiz above to find the right program for you and your book!
